Cinematographic apparatus



C. E. CARTER.

ClNEMATOG-RAPHIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 5. 1919.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

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fizm zzfar' C. E. CARTER.

CHJEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS,

APPLlCATiON FILED HOV5,19l9.

1 ,4 1 2,5 08. Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

75 Inventor [Var/v i Carler [orney C. E. CARTER.

CINEMATGGRAPHIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION 11.50 NOV 5, 19x9.

Patnted Apr. .11, 1922.

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hm flaw/W C. E. CARTER.

CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV 5, I919.v 1,412,508. H at t d Apr. 11, 1922,.

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C. E. CARTER. I

CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1919 ,1 412 '5 Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

6 SHU-LTS -SHEET 5.

if 1 T I Q1 C. E. CARTER.

CINEMATOGRAFHIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV; 5, i919.

1,412,508. Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

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% [1212012 for [Yarf Z Gm- J3 KW jyilorne UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CLARK E. CARTER, 0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO ALADDIN CINEMA CO. INC., OF MALONE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

Application filed November 5, 1919. Serial No. 335,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, CLARK E. CARTER. a subject of the King of Great Britain. residing at Montreal. Province of Quebec. Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in cinematographic Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full. clear, and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in the artto which is appertains to make and use the same. I

The present invention relates to cinematographic machines and more particularly to a home moving picture machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine of this character which will be fool-proof as well as fire-proof. whereby inexperienced operators may have moving pictures within their homes without the fear of fire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable moving picture machine of a knock-down frame construction. wherein the various parts may be easily and readily taken apart and placed in a compact package in a comparatively small amount of space, and when assembling the machine the same may be connected up with the ordinary lighting system in a home or dwelling and receive suflicient power for operating the same as well as supplying suflicient light. 7

A still further object of the inventionis to provide an automatic control for such moving picture machines, wherein the lighting circuit will be disconnected should the film break within the machine, thereby preventing the possibility of fire. 7

With the above and other objects in view which willhereinafter appear as the descriptioncontinues, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, COIllbination and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a top plan view;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail broken perspective view of the lamphouse and its connection to the machine;

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal section through the lamphouse;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the lamphouse support;

igure 7 is an enlarged fragmental view of the lamp and reflector holder;

-F1gure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the machine head showing the pro ecting mechanisms.

F lgure 9 is a detailed vertical section through the gear casing;

F lgure 10 is a vertical section through the same taken at right angles to Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail view through the machine head casing showing the film gate;

Figure 12 is a detail section taken at right angles to Figure 11;

Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the circuit breaker; v

igure 14 is a detail section of the same showing the position of the switch when opened;

Figure 15 is a similar view showing the switch when closed;

Figure 16 is an end elevation of the circuit breaker as shown in Figure 13;

Figure 17 is a detail section through the electrical stop for the lamphouse when in open position;

Figure 18 is a similar view when in closed position;

of one of the feed sprockets; and,

Figure 20 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical system.

Referring now more particularly to ,the accompanying drawings wherein like and corresponding parts are designated by'similar reference characters throughout the several views.

By having particular reference to Figure 20 of the drawings, wherein I have diagrammatically illustrated a portion of the invention and its wiring system, the numeral 1 indicates an incandescent lamp having a very high candle power which is mounted within a lantern housing 2, which is adapted to project the light from the lamp 1 through the projecting mechanism arranged within the housing 3. The numeral 4 indicates the wirin from the main supply system and electrlcally connected thereto is a switch One terminal of this switch 5 has a wire 6 leading to the lamp 1 and a wire 7 leads from this lamp 1 to the switch 8 mounted upon the lan'iphouse, so that the current Figure 19 is an enlarged side elevation supplied to the lamp may be under control by the operator. Leading from this switch is a wire 9 electrically connected to a circuit breaker 10 arranged within the casing 3, but of course, it is to be understood that this circuit breaker can be arranged exteriorly of this casing, so as to prevent any possibility of electric sparks catching fire to the film as it passes through the casing 3. A return wire 11 extends from the circuit breaker to the other terminal of the switch 5. A wire 12 also extends from this switch 5 and is electrically connected to a lamphouse stop 13 and the return wire 14 of this lamphouse stop is electrically connected to the wire 9. A motor 15 is provided for drawing the film through the casing. 3 and the wiring system of this motor is connected to the main lines 4 through the switch 16, but, of course, the same may be electrically connected in circuit with the lamp 1, so that when the lamp is started the motor will be set in motion and when the lamp is out the current supplied to the motor will be disconnected.

From this construction it will be apparent that when the switches 5 and 16 are closed the motor 15 will be set in motion for drawing the film through the machine and when t e operator closes theswitch 8, the lamp 1 will burn, whereby the moving pictures will be projected from the machine. Should the film while passing through the machine break, the circuit breaker 10 will be released, thereby disconnecting the circuit'in which the lamp 1 is included, and in th1s manner prevent the rays of light from coming in contact with the film remaining in the casing thereby preventing the film from catching on fire. The purpose of the lamphouse stop 13 will be later set forth.

The machine comprises main frame 17 whlch is preferably made from a rectangular castlng having the holders 18 secured thereto and adjustably mounted within these holders 18 are the supporting legs 19 which provide a telescopic support for the machine, whereby the latter may be adjusted to the proper position when projecting the p ctures. A lower film magazine is secured within the frame 17 having a hingedly supported door 20 and arranged in this film magazlne is a reel 22. A bracket 23 is secured to the frame 17 and has journaled therein a shaft upon which is mounted the reel 22 and connected to this shaft is a pulley 24. The motor 15 is detachably connected to the forward end of the frame 17 by means of a bracket 25. Adjustably connected to the rear of this frame 17 is a bracket 26 carrying the lamphouse 2. This bracket is rovided with elongated slots through which extend the bolts 27, so that it may be adjusted vertically and when so ad usted the lamphouse 2 may also be secured. inplace. This bracket 26 has connected therewith a pair of horizontally extending rods 28 which are braced at their outer ends by means of the an ular rod 29. Hingedly connected to the rods 28 are the lamphouse legs 30 and the upper endsof these legs 30 are pivotally connected to'the rods 31 and 32 which are secured within the lamphouse casing. This rod 32 is provided with a hand knob 33 so that it may be rotated and is in threaded engagement with the sleeve 30' of one of the legs 30 so that when this rod 32 is so revolved the lamphouse will be caused to travel in a horizontal plane upon the rods 31 and 32. Also journaled within the lamphouse 2 are the shafts 34 and 35 and journaled upon these shafts 34 and 35 are the frames 36, 37 and '38. The frame 38 carries a movable condenser and by rotating the shaft 35 the movable condenser may be adjusted to and from the stationary condenser 39, as the sleeve carried'by the frame 38 is in threaded engagement with the shaft 35. The frame 37 supporting the incandescent lamp 1 and the frame 36 which supports a reflector are provided each with a sleeve which are in threaded engagement with the shaft 34, so

that when this shaft 34 is rotated this reflector and lamp will be moved in unison. This reflector comprises a semi-circular casing 40 which is supported in the frame 36 and has supported therein the reflecting glass member 41, so that the rays of light from the lamp 1 will pass through the glass reflector member 41 and strike the inner face of the semi-circular member 40, whereby these rays of light will be diverted through the condensers at the opposite end of the lamphouse.

The casing 3 housing the projecting mechanism is provided with a base plate 42 which is secured to the top of the frame 17 by means of the bolts 43. The upper magazine chamber comprises a casing 44 which is de t-achably connected to the top of the casing 3 and has hingedly connected thereto a swinging door 45. Arear stationary wall 46 is provided and has secured thereto a bracket 47 in which is journaled a stub shaft for holding the reel 48 upon which is wound the film 49. WVhen the motor 15 is set in motion it will, through the mechanism to be a later described, operate the projecting mechanism of the invention as well as'cause the reel 22 to revolve. The film 49 passes over the idler roller 50, then through two when the reel 22 is revolved the film will. be drawn through the projecting mechanism and finally wind itself upon this reel. Ar-

ranged at one side of the casing 3 is a gear casing 56 having a main shaft 57 journaled therein. Keyed to this main shaft 57 is a pulley fly-wheel 58 and extending over this pulley is a belt 59 which latter extends over a pulley 60 carried by the armature shaft of the motor 15. Also keyed to this shaft 57 is a pinion 61 which meshes with the gears 62 and 63, the latter being supported upon and carried by the shafts 64 which are journaled within the frames 3 and 56 and carry the respective feed sprockets 52 and 54. ,The shafts 64 carrying the lower feed sprocket 54 is provided with a pulley 65 over which extends a belt 66 which also extends over the pulley 24, so that when the shaft 57 is set in motion the reel 22 will be caused to revolve through the mechanism as specified. This belt 66 extends through an opening formed at the bottom of the casing 56 and is preferably made of a coil spring as shown. so as to permit the shaft carrying the reel 22 to be relieved of any undue pressure which would tend to drag the film 49 through the machine and break the same,

but at the same time will give sufficient power to draw the film through the machine without br aking the same. The drive shaft 57 is provided with a worm 67 which is in mesh with a gear 68 carried by a horizontal shaft 69 journaled within the frame 56 and keyed to the outer extending arm of the shaft 69 is a shutter 70 Also hingedly sup: ported as at 71 within the casing 56 is a leyer 72 carrying a beater roller; 7 3 and the latter extends through an elongated slot 74 formed within the side walls of the casing 3. Also carried bythe shaft 57 is a cam 75 which rests upon this arm 72 and the arm carries a projecting blade 76 which also extends over the cam 75. As the shaft 57 is rotated the cam 75 will cause the arm 72 to be raised and lowered, thereby giving an oscillating movement to the beater roller 73 and as the film 49 extends over this beater roller, it will be drawn throu'gh the fihn gate 53. This "r the beater roller 73 extends over an idler roller 77 and then over a framing roller 78. This framing roller 78 is carried by a frame 79 pivotally supported as at 80 to the side wall of the casing 3. A set screw 81 projects exteriorly of the casing 3 and engages a projection 82 carried by the frame 79, so that the rdller 78 may be moved for properly framing the picture. This frame 79 has also connected thereto a leaf spring 83 which rests upon the bottom of the casing 3 and holds the projection 82 against the Set screw 81. Eachof the feed sprockets 52 and 54 are provided with the usual s rocket teeth '85 which engage the film. 'l fach of these feed sprockets are also provided. with the idler rollers 86 which hold the film into engagement with the sprocket rollers and these idler rollers 86 are carried by the arms 87 pivotally mounted as at 88 and 89 to the rear wall 84 of the casing 3.

The leaf springs 90 are provided'for exerting a tension upon these idler rollers. The idler roller of the lower sprocket wheel is provided with a set screw or handle 91 so that this roller 93 and as it passes through the machine it has a tendency to cause this roller 93 to revolve in the direction of the arrow as shown in Figure 13. This roller 93 is provided with a keyway portion 94 in which rests a leaf spring 95 and this leaf spring 95 holds the roller 93 against rotation. Projecting-from this fibre plate 92 is a contact member 96 which travel of the outer ree end of the spring 95. A terminal 97 is provided which establishes a communication between the pin 96 and the wire 11 and also a terminal 98 is mounted upon this plate 92 for establishing .an electrical connection between the pin 89 and the spring 95. As long as the film 49 passes through the machine it will cause the roller 93 to move in the direction of the arrow as shown in Figure 13, whereby the spring 95 will'be brought incontact with the pin 96 as better illustrated in Figure 15, thereby closing the electrical circuit and permitting the lamp 1 which is also included in that circuit to burn. Should the film 29 break. the tension upon the roller 93. will be released and the spring 95 will be permitted to return to its normal position as better shown in Figure 14 whereby the electrical circuit will be broken.

From this construction, it is obvious that should the film break and clog within the machine the lamp will be put out, thereby preventing the possibility of a fire.

Whereas I havealso illustrated the fibre plate 92 as arranged within the casing 3, it is to be understood that this plate and the contact members carried thereby could be arranged exteriorly of this casing 3, so as to prevent a spark when the circuit is being broken within the casing, which would likely set fire to the film.

The rear wall 99of the casing 3 is provided with an opening, 100' through which the rays of light may pass and. adapted to.

extend around this opening 100 is the film rojects in the path'of gate 53. This gate 53 is hingedly connected I as at 54' to the wall 99 and is provided with the leaf springs 101 which are adapted 'to rest upon the marginal edges of the film 49.

- A latch member 102 is provided for retain- -may be readily released and the film per-- mitted to pass through the film gate when placing the same in position. Secured to the frame wall 103 ot the casing 3 is a bracket 10lsupporting the lens jacket 105. The supporting means for the bracket 10-1 comprise a stationary rod 106 and a threaded shaft 107 which has connected thereto a set screw 108, so that by revolving the set screw the lens may be properly adjusted.

Hingedly connected to the frame 3 is a door 109 having a glass covered opening 110 therein, so that the operator may readily see the film as it passes through the machine head.

The lamphouse normally rests in the position as better illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, and when in this position should the lamp 1 arranged therein be lit, the rays'of light would not project throu h the opening 100 where they would .likey come in contact with the film passing throughv the machine. While the stop 13 is in its projected position as better illustrated in Figures 1, t, and 17 of the drawings, the lamphouse will be prevented from moving into place; therefore, this stop 13 is to be pushed inwardly as better illustrated in Figure 18 before the lamphouse can be moved into position whereby the rays of light from the lamphouse may pass through the machine. The weight of the lamphouse normally tends the legs 30 to swing to the position as better shown in Figures 1 and 4 and the cross-bars 111 which are connected to the rods 28 are provided with the projections'112 and 113 in which are adjustably mounted the set screws 114. I These set screws 114 limit the swinging movement of the lamphouse as the legs 30 are adapted to rest thereupon. as better illustrated in Figure 6. *The stop 13 is mounted within a casing 115 which is secured to the top of the frame 17. and arranged within this casing 115 arethe magnets or solenoids 116. The stop 13 is carried by the frame 117 which is normally retained in its extended position as better illustrated in Figure 17 by means 1 of the coil spring 118. When this stop 13 is pressed inwardl as shown in Figure 18, the electrical circuit will be closed and when the current passes through these magnets the stop will be held in its inward posltion.

The lamphouse is then moved until one of the legs 30 rests upon the extension 113, whereby the rays of light from the lamp 1 may pass through the machine. It will thus be seen, that the stop 13 limits the movement of the lamphouse so that the latter can only be moved to operating position when said stop is moved inwardly. When in operating position, the lamphouse may be locked against movement in any desired manner.

From this it will be understood that the ,mitting the lamp to be moved back to the position as illustrated in full lines Figure 3. From the foregoing it is obvious that when the-electrical circuit is closed and the lamphouse is in position, the rays of light will pass through the film gate and as the film is in motion the rays of light will project through the lenses and finally upon the screen.

It is also apparent that by making the reel housings, the projecting mechanism housing and the lamphouse detachable, the various parts thereof may be taken down and placed in a compact ackage and will take up but a comparative y small amount of space and that the various parts may again be readily assembled.

The films may be easily and readily placed within the machine and any inexperlenced operator may set the machine into operation and properly frame the pictures. This machine is' adapted for use with standardized films and it may be connected up' with the ordinary house wiring of a lighting system, 105 thereby giving to inexperienced operators the benefit of showing moving pictures within their homes.

invention, what'I claim as new and secure by Letters Patent is 1. A cinematographic apparatus comprising in combination a support, a film projecting mechanism mounted thereupon,

a motor for driving said film projectin mechanism, a movable lamp house carried by said sup ort, an electrical circuit in which is inc uded the lamp of the lamp house, and means included in said circuit whereby said lamp house will be prevented 120 from being moved into operative position when said circuit isbroken.

2. A moving picture machine comprising a main frame, a projecting mechanism mounted upon said main frame, avertically adjustable bracket swured to said main frame, a. longitudinally and laterally movable lamphouse supported by said bracket whereby the lamphouse may be moved to and from said projecting mechanism and an electrical controlled stop adapted to extend in the path of said lamp house.

3. A moving picture machine comprising a main frame, a bracket secured'to said main frame, a lamphouse, supportin legs adjustably connected to said lampfiouse, means for pivotally supporting saidlegs on said bracket, means for limltin the, swinging movement of said supporting legs, and a stop limiting the movement of the lamp house when the circuit is broken.

4. A moving picture machine comprising 1 a main frame, a bracket adjustably connected to said main frame, a pair of sup-- porting legs pivotally connected to said bracket, stops carried by said bracket 'for limiting the swinging movement of said supporting legs, a lamphouse, means for adr justably and pivotally connecting said supporting legs to said lamphouse, a stop adapted to extend within the path of said lamp house, said stop adapted to limit the movement of the lamp house when the cir cuit is broken and permit the lamp house to be moved to operative position when the circuit is closed. I

5. A cinematographic apparatus comprising in combination a main rectangular frame, adjustable and detachable supporting legs therefor, a detachable supporting motor bracket secured to the forward end of said frame, a detachable lamp house bracket secured-to the rear end of saidframe, alower film magazinearranged Within said frame, a projecting mechanism casing detachably secured to the upper end of said frame, a vertical bracket detachably secured to the upper" end of said projecting mechanism casing, and an upper magazine casing supported by said vertical bracket.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I i 1 CLARK E. CARTER. I 

